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Sun, 10 November 2024

Fresh gun-and-bomb attacks in Imphal

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23:36 Fresh gun-and-bomb attacks in Imphal

Armed men from the hills launched a series of gun-and-bomb attacks in parts of Lamlai assembly constituency in Manipur's Imphal East district on Sunday, police said.

Security forces -- Army, BSF and police -- retaliated, resulting in a fierce exchange of fire at Sanasabi, Sabungkhok Khunou, and Thamnapokpi, officials said.

Tension remained high in the surrounding villages as farmers were unable to tend to their paddy fields due to the firing from hilltop positions towards the low-lying fields of Sanasabi, they added.

To prevent the situation from escalating further, additional forces have been deployed, police said. -- PTI

Image only for representation

22:15 Rajasthan: Order to paint college walls orange sparks row

The Rajasthan College Education Commissionerate has directed 20 government colleges to get the front facade of their buildings and entry halls painted orange under the Kayakalp scheme.

According to the Commissionerate, the move is to ensure a positive environment in the education institutes.

The Kayakalp scheme is a national initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to promote cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control in public healthcare facilities in India.

The opposition Congress slammed the move as an attempt to politicise educational institutions.

Joint Director (Planning), College Education Vijendra Kumar Sharma issued the order last month regarding the paint of front facade and entry halls of colleges under the scheme.

In the first phase, a total of 20 colleges, two colleges in each division level, have to be painted, the order said.

"The colleges are the main centres of higher education. The educational environment and scenario of the college should be such for the students that they feel positive as soon as they enter the college," the order stated.

A good message about higher education should be sent to the society and therefore, the colleges have to be rejuvenated to create a positive, clean, healthy and educational environment in the colleges.

The joint director further said in the order that in the first phase of the scheme, two government colleges of each division have been included and the front facade and entrance hall of the 20 colleges' buildings should be phase painted with "Asian Paints White Gold 8292 and Asian Paints Orange Crown 7974".

Targeting the BJP government over the matter, PCC general secretary Swarnim Chaturvedi said that it was an attempt to politicise education in colleges.

"The BJP government has failed to deliver on promises made to people. The government has nothing to highlight as its achievements and in order to divert attention; it is resorting to such moves," he said. -- PTI

A bride was critically injured after a bullet hit her head during marriage celebrations at a marriage palace near Khai Pheme ki village in Ferozepur, Punjab, on Sunday, the police said.

The incident took place when a few of the relatives were firing in the air at the wedding ceremony. Baljinder Kaur (23), the daughter of Baj Singh of Hasham Toot village, was scheduled to tie the knot with one Gurpreet Singh of Sarhali kalan in Tarn Taran district at the marriage palace near Khai Pheme ki village.

Baljinder was rushed to a private hospital where her condition is stated to be critical.

Deputy superintendent of police Sukhwinder Singh said that they were scanning the CCTV footage.

Further investigations were underway, he added. -- PTI

Professor Muhammad Yunus

21:10 Bangladesh's interim govt inducts three more advisers

Bangladesh's interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus inducted three new members to the council of advisers with President Mohammad Shahabuddin administering the oath of office at Bangabhaban presidential palace here on Sunday evening.

Industrialist Sheikh Bashir Uddin, filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, and anti-discrimination students movement leader Mahfuj Alam, who is also serving as a special assistant to Yunus, were administered the oath at the Darbar Hall of the presidential palace in the presence of other dignitaries including senior government officials, Bangabhaban officials said.

The official said that with these appointments the number of advisers in the interim government stood at 24.

The official said the new inductions would likely result in the reshuffle of portfolios in the council installed on August 8, three days after the ouster of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League regime in a mass upsurge led by the anti-discrimination students' movement.

The protesters were initially waging a campaign against reforms in the quota system for government jobs but later the demonstrations turned into a mass movement demanding the resignation of Hasina.

Alam was largely a behind-the-scenes key figure in the students' movement. -- PTI

NCP leader Baba Siddique/File image

20:59 Baba Siddique shooter, 2 others arrested in UP

The Mumbai police on Sunday said they have arrested the shooter and two others in NCP leader Baba Siddique murder case from Uttar Pradesh.

The shooter Shivakumar and two others were arrested in a joint operation with STF of UP police, an official said.

The three are being brought to Mumbai, he said.

Siddique was shot dead on October 12 by three assailants outside his son MLA Zeeshan Siddique's office building in Bandra East.

He sustained two bullet injuries on his chest and was rushed to the Lilavati hospital in Mumbai, where he passed away. -- PTI

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20:30 Bomb hoax at Kolkata airport after passenger suspects explosives in woman's bag

Security personnel at Kolkata airport were placed on high alert on Sunday after they received information from a passenger who suspected that a bomb could be planted on a private airline plane.

According to sources at the airport, the passenger told CISF and IndiGo staff that he suspected that a bomb might be planted on Kolkata-Chennai IndiGo flight 6E 892.

The passenger, seated near gate number 18 at the airport, suspected that a bomb was ticking inside a bag, an Airports Authority of India spokesperson said and added that it was later discovered that the bag actually belonged to a woman employee of IndiGo.

"The security personnel acted as per protocol, and the passenger's claim was found to be a hoax," the spokesperson confirmed.

"There was no bomb in the woman's bag," the spokesperson said and added, "The passenger, who was supposed to take the same airline's flight 6E-6173 to Agartala, was detained by the CISF for giving false information."

The CISF will conduct a medical examination of the passenger before handing him over to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose airport police station, the AAI spokesperson said. -- PTI

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20:21 CPM FB page hacked, UDF nominee's video posted ahead of bypolls

With crucial bypolls in Kerala just a few days away, the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist faced embarrassment on Sunday when a campaign video of the Opposition United Democratic Front candidate for the Palakkad seat, Rahul Mamkootathil, appeared on the official page of its Pathanamthitta district committee.

Initially, the district leadership claimed it was not the official page of the party, but later clarified that the page had been "hacked" to post the video and incite controversy.

CPI-M Pathanamthitta district secretary KP Udayabhanu issued a statement saying the party came to know about the video posted following media reports.

"Upon detailed examination, it was found that someone hacked the page, deliberately posted the video to create controversy, took a screenshot, and shared it with the media," Udayabhanu stated.

The social media team recovered the page and removed the video promptly.

A complaint has been lodged with the cyber police and Facebook authorities.

The BJP alleged the incident as evidence of a "deal" between the LDF and UDF in the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly bypolls. -- PTI

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20:06 Delhi constable gives CPR to road victim, saves life

A woman head constable literally breathed life into a motorcyclist lying wounded on a road near Palam Gate on Sunday, the Delhi police said.

Head constable Satish Kumari was on duty near Dwarka Traffic Circle when she found Amit Dogra, 35, lying unconscious on a road and gave him a CPR.

The incident happened around 7.45 am, when she witnessed a collision between two motorcycles, police said in a statement.

"She acted promptly, rushing to his aid with the help of passersby. She turned him over and administered CPR, successfully reviving him before he was sent to a nearby hospital in a PCR van," it said.

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is given when the heart stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs, according to American Red Cross.

The process involves the rescuer compressing chest of the victim or administering oxygen mouth-to-mouth. -- PTI

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19:53 Two children killed in attack by wild elephants in Chhattisgarh

Two children were trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants in Chhattisgarh's Surajpur district, a forest official said on Sunday.

The incident occurred on Saturday night on Tongtaiyya hill near Maheshpur village under Ramanujnagar forest range, the official said.

He said the victims, Dishu (11) and his sister Kajal (5), belonged to the Pando tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group, he said.

As per preliminary information, a herd of 11 elephants attacked a hut on the hill.

While the parents managed to escape, the tuskers trampled the children to death, he said.

Forest and police personnel reached the spot and sent bodies for post-mortem, he said.

The kin of the deceased have received instant relief of Rs 25,000 each, and the remaining compensation of Rs 5.75 lakh each will be disbursed after formalities, the official said.

Following the attack, four other huts on the hill were vacated, and residents were shifted to Premnagar, he said, adding that efforts were underway to chase the herd away.

Human-elephant conflicts in the state, particularly in the northern part, have been a cause of concern for the last decade.

The menace has gradually been spreading to districts in the central region.

The districts facing the menace are Surguja, Raigarh, Korba, Surajpur, Mahasamund, Dhamtari, Gariaband, Balod and Balrampur. -- PTI

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19:35 Tension in K'taka village after Dalits enter temple for first time

Tension prevailed in a village in Mandya on Sunday after the district authorities made way for the Dalits to enter the temple and worship the deity 'Kalabhairaveshwara' for the first time.

The upper caste people, mostly Vokkaligas, allegedly took away the 'Utsava Murthy', the metallic festival idol of the deity for performing rituals outside the temple in Hanakere village.

Heavy police force has been deployed in Hanakere in view of the prevailing tension.

According to sources, there was an old Kalabhairaveshwara Swamy temple in the village and Dalits were never allowed to enter it.

About three years ago, the old dilapidated structure was demolished and a new temple was built.

Recently, the shrine came under the control of the Religious Endowment Department of the state government.

Soon, Dalits decided to enter the temple but the members of the upper caste communities did not agree. -- PTI

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19:18 Thane collector warns of action against those refusing poll duty

The number of people seeking exemption from Maharashtra assembly poll duty is rising and strict action would be taken against those absenting themselves from such essential work, Thane district collector Ashok Shringare said on Sunday.

Thane district has 18 assembly seats with 6,955 polling stations, for which 30,868 personnel have been deputed, he said.

"The figure includes 7,717 polling station presiding officers, an equal number of polling officers and 15,434 support staff. However, numerous persons have arrived at the collectorate seeking exemption from polling duty, which is a national responsibility," he said.

"Those with legitimate issues will be given a hearing, while others will be under scrutiny. Election duty comes just once in five years. Shirking it will not be tolerated. Section 134 of Representation of the People Act 1951 gives the authority to take direct disciplinary action against such persons," Shingare said.

Maharashtra assembly polls will be held on November 20, while votes will be counted on November 23. -- PTI

Amit Verma, a national level shot-put player, was found dead in his apartment in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal on Sunday, an official said.

Verma's friends reached his house after he did not respond to their calls in the morning, TT Nagar police station in-charge Sunil Singh Bhadoria said.

The friends broke open the door when the 22-year-old athlete did not answer the doorbell.

They found his body inside the apartment, the official said.

Bhadoria said no suicide note was found in the house. At this stage, police cannot say if it is suspicious, according to the official.

The reason for Verma's death can be ascertained only after post-mortem, he said.

The shot-put player was in Bhopal for the past year to train at the TT Nagar Stadium, he added. -- PTI

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18:51 Designated terrorist held by Canadian police

Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, who was designated a terrorist by India, is likely to have been arrested in Canada's Ontario province following a shooting incident, sources claimed in New Delhi on Sunday.

The incident occurred on October 28 in Milton.

The Halton Regional Police Service had last Tuesday said that it had arrested two men on charges of "discharging firearm with intent" following an investigation after the duo had come to a hospital and one of them was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot and later discharged.

It did not disclose their identity and said both accused "were held in custody pending a bail hearing".

The sources claimed that one of those arrested is believed to be Arsh Dalla, who is associated with the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and ran terror modules on behalf of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist who was killed in June last year. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a roadshow in Ranchi, Jharkhand on Sunday/ANI on X

18:28 Modi begins 3-km roadshow in Ranchi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took part in a 3 km roadshow in Ranchi, the capital of poll-bound Jharkhand, with thousands of people lining both sides of the road to catch a glimpse of their leader.

The Prime Minister, seated atop a saffron-coloured open vehicle adorned with flowers and his cutouts, waved at the crowd, which chanted slogans like "Modi Zindabad."

This was the second roadshow by the PM in Ranchi, the earlier being on May 3.

The roadshow began at OTC Ground, amid tight security and heavy police deployment, and is set to culminate at New Market Chowk.

Before the roadshow, the Prime Minister addressed two rallies one in Bokaro and another in Gumla where he promised all-round development for the state.

From children to adults, people expressed their excitement by capturing moments of the roadshow on their mobile phones.

In view of the roadshow, prohibitory orders were enforced in Ranchi from 6 am to 11 pm.

Additionally, the entry of all small and large goods vehicles was restricted in the state capital between 2 pm and 8 pm.

The district administration also declared a "no-flying zone" within a 200-metre radius of the stretch between Birsa Munda Airport and Sahjanand Chowk.

Drones, paragliding, and hot air balloons have been banned in this area for the duration of the event. -- PTI

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18:21 8 cars gutted as lorry transporting them catches fire in T'gana, driver sustains burns

A container lorry with eight cars being transported on it caught fire in Sangareddy district in Telangana on Sunday and the driver suffered burns, the police said.

The incident happened on the national highway at Zahirabad town between 1.30 pm and 2 pm.

Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the flames were brought under control, the police said, adding the lorry driver who suffered 20 percent burns was rushed to a hospital.

A short-circuit could have led to the fire mishap, a police official said, based on preliminary investigation.

The cars were being transported from Gujarat to Hyderabad, he said.

A case has been registered and the probe is underway, the police added. -- PTI

Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para/Image courtesy White Knight Corps on X

18:15 Army officer killed, 3 jawans hurt in encounter in J-K's Kishtwar

Junior Commissioned Officer of the Army's special forces laid down his life on Sunday, while three more soldiers were injured in a gunfight with terrorists in a remote forest area in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, officials said.

The operation comes amid an intensified hunt underway since the killing of two Village Defence Guards recently.

The Army identified the fallen hero as Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para and saluted his supreme sacrifice.

The encounter broke out around 11 am when joint search parties of the Army and police intercepted the terrorists in the Keshwan forest, a few kilometres from the spot where the bullet-riddled bodies of VDGs Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar were found.

A massive search operation was launched in the forests of Kuntwara and Keshwan on Thursday evening after the terrorists abducted and killed the VDGs. -- PTI

A fact-finding panel has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that over 17,600 trees have been felled in three Uttar Pradesh districts to make way for the upcoming Kanwar Yatra route.

The tribunal was hearing a case related to the alleged felling of more than 1 lakh trees and shrubs in the protected forest area across the three forest divisions of Ghaziabad, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar for the proposed route between Muradnagar in Ghaziabad and Purkaji in Muzaffarnagar.

In an order dated November 6, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava noted that a joint committee formed earlier to ascertain facts had submitted its interim report.

The committee comprised the Forest Survey of India director, a senior scientist from the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, the state's chief secretary or his representative and the Meerut district magistrate.

"The interim report states that as per the information furnished by the irrigation department, 17,607 trees have been cut in all three districts till August 9, 2024," said the bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel.

The tribunal noted that while permission was granted to fell 1,12,722 trees, it had later been decided to cut only 33,776 trees.

It said, "The state of UP is directed to clarify if the number of trees to be cut has been calculated strictly in accordance with the provisions of the UP Protection of Trees Act."

The tribunal directed the additional chief secretary of the state's environment department to file an affidavit within two weeks, stating the number of trees that will be cut in the course of the construction of the route.

"It will also be clearly stated if trees have been cut beyond the width of 15 to 20 metres and, if yes, the person responsible for it," it added.

"Considering the fact that the seriousness of the issue relating to a public project, the joint committee is expected to complete the exercise as directed, expeditiously and submit the final report without any delay," the tribunal added.

The tribunal also noted the Surveyor General's earlier statement on October 16 about conducting a drone survey to identify the extent of trees cut on both sides of the canals.

It, however, said, "From the report submitted by the Survey of India that information cannot be gathered."

"Hence, we direct the Surveyor General, Survey of India, to trace out the satellite imagery of the stretches under consideration for the year 2024 (till October 2024) and file a fresh report showing the comparative position of trees which were existing in 2023 and trees fell till October 2024 in the stretches under consideration."

The matter has been posted for further proceedings on November 25. -- PTI

16:50 Justice Khanna to be sworn in as CJI tomorrow

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who has been part of several landmark Supreme Court judgements such as scrapping the electoral bonds scheme and upholding abrogation of Article 370, will be sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India on Monday.

President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office at Rashtrapati Bhavan in a ceremony scheduled at 10 am.

Justice Khanna will succeed Justice D Y Chandrachud, who retired on Sunday, and his term will last until May 13, 2025.

The Centre officially notified Justice Khanna's appointment on October 24 following Chief Justice Chandrachud's recommendation on October 16. Friday was the last working day of Justice Chandrachud as the CJI and he was given a rousing farewell by judges, lawyers and staff of the apex court and the high courts.

Justice Khanna, who served as a Supreme Court judge since January 2019, has been part of several landmark judgements such as upholding the sanctity of EVMs, scrapping the electoral bonds scheme, upholding the abrogation of Article 370 and the grant of interim bail to former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Hailing from an illustrious Delhi-based family, Justice Khanna is the son of former Delhi high court judge Justice Dev Raj Khanna and the nephew of prominent former apex court judge H R Khanna.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019, was a third-generation lawyer before being appointed as judge of the high court. -- PTI

Security has been beefed up outside the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi as members of a Hindu-Sikh outfit marched towards it in protest against attacks on Hindu temples in Canada.

The Hindu Sikh Global Forum members are marching towards the High Commission in the Chanakyapuri area.

Police said they have raised barricadings outside the High Commission to ensure there is no breach in law and order.

But some of the protesters were seen trying to scale the barricading.

"We have deployed additional forces and barricadings outside the High Commission of Canada following a protest march call. No one will be allowed to breach law and order," a senior police officer said.

There has been a series of violent incidents targeting Hindu temples in Canada, the latest being at a temple in Brampton on November 4. -- PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday promised to enact an-anti conversion law with stringent provisions in Maharashtra, and also assured a skill census for training as per industry needs as well as free ration to low-income families.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled in Mumbai the 25-point 'Sankalp Patra 2024', as per which the financial assistance component under the Mahayuti government's Ladki Bahin scheme for women will be increased from Rs 1,500 per month to Rs 2,100.

The BJP, in its manifesto for the November 20 state assembly polls, also promised to create 25 lakh job opportunities and assured 10 lakh students will get a stipend of Rs 10,000 every month.

The ruling Mahayuti comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

The BJP's manifesto promised that an anti-conversion law will be enacted with provides for stringent action against forced and deceitful conversions.

Though the skill census, the ruling party assured to ascertain the needs of the industry and upgrade skill training wherever necessary.

Under the Akshay Anna Yojana, low-income families will be provided free food items every month through the Public Distribution System (PDS), as per the manifesto.

The BJP has also planned to develop the state into an advanced robotic and Artificial Intelligence (AI) training hub. It also promised to create 10 lakh new business leaders through the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Akanksha centres in each district.

The party promised to create 50 lakh 'lakpati didis' by 2027 for which one industrial cluster of 500 self-help groups will be created and an initial corpus of Rs 1,000 crore will be provided.

The manifesto promised that if voted to power, the Mahayuti will develop Nagpur, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik and Ahilyanagar as modern aeronautical and space manufacturing centres.

It also promised that the SGST on the purchase of fertilisers will be returned to farmers as grant. The prices of essential commodities will be kept stable, according to the manifesto. -- PTI

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the release of BJP manifesto for the state Assembly elections, in Mumbai on Sunday. Maharashtra Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis and state party chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule also present. Photograph: ANI Photo

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra will retain power with full majority and a decision on who will be the chief minister will be taken by the alliance partners after the state polls.

Talking to reporters in Mumbai after unveiling the Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto for the November 20 state assembly polls, Shah expressed confidence that the Mahayuti will win the elections.

All the three alliance partners -- the BJP, the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party -- have released their manifestos and after the elections, a committee of ministers from the three parties will be formed to prioritise the assurances given, Shah said.

"At present, Eknath Shinde is the chief minister. After the elections, all the three alliance partners will decide on the chief minister," the senior BJP leader said.

He said the Shiv Sena and NCP split because Uddhav Thackeray prioritised his son over Eknath Shinde while Sharad Pawar prioritised his daughter over Ajit Pawar.

"These parties gave priority to their family members and the parties split. They blame the BJP for no reason," he said.

The BJP is against family-based politics, Shah asserted.

He rejected the Congress' accusation of BJP's plan to weaken reservations.

"It is the Modi government which gave reservations to OBCs. In fact, we strengthen the reservations," he said.

Shah also said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's act of flaunting the Constitution has been exposed after it came to light that the book (carried by Gandhi) had blank pages.

"He (Gandhi) has now become the butt of a joke," the BJP leader said.

Shah said the opposition MVA's leadership has been targeting the Mahayuti government's Ladki Bahin scheme for women, but has made a similar assurance with a higher financial assistance.

"This shows their contradictions. Instead of taking a stock of our performance, Rahul Gandhi should check what is happening in the states ruled by his party," he said.

Shah also said that the Congress' caste politics was aimed at dividing the country.

He rejected the MVA allegations about Maharashtra lagging behind in investments.

"During the MVA rule, Maharashtra was at the 4th position (in terms of FDI) while in the last two years, the state has got the highest FDI," Shah said. -- PTI

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Maharashtra Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis, state party chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule release Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manifesto for the state Assembly elections, in Mumbai on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo

An Army personnel was injured on Sunday in a gunfight with terrorists in a remote forest area in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The encounter broke out in Keshwan forests when the joint search parties of the Army and police intercepted hiding terrorists around 11 am, they said.

They said the operation in the forests of Kuntwara and Keshwan was going on since Thursday evening following killing of two village defence guards.

"Encounter begins at Keswan-Kistwar between terrorists and security forces. Three or four terrorists believed to be trapped," a police spokesperson said.

The official said this was the same group of terrorists who killed the two innocent villagers (village defence guards).

Heavy exchange of fire is going on between the two sides and further details are awaited, the officials said. -- PTI

13:03 Russian oil finds its way to Europe via India

India's export of fuels like diesel to the European Union jumped 58 per cent in the first three quarters of 2024, with a bulk of them likely coming from refining discounted Russian oil, according to a monthly tracker report.

The EU/G7 countries in December 2022 introduced a price cap and an embargo on the imports of Russian crude oil in a bid to cripple Kremlin's revenue and create a vacuum in its funding for the invasion of Ukraine.

However, a lack of a policy on refined oil produced from Russian crude meant that countries not imposing sanctions could import large volumes of Russian crude, refine them into oil products and legally export them to the price-cap coalition countries.

India has become the second biggest buyer of Russian crude oil since the invasion, with purchases rising from less than one per cent of the total oil imported in the pre-Ukraine war period to almost 40 per cent of the country's total oil purchases.

The rise was primarily because Russian crude oil was available at a discount to other internationally traded oil due to the price cap and the European nations shunning purchases from Moscow.

Fuel exports were, however, at full price.

'Capitalising on the refining loophole, India has now become the biggest exporter of oil products to the EU. In the first three quarters of 2024, exports to the EU from the Jamnagar, Vadinar (in Gujarat) and new Mangalore refinery - which are increasingly reliant on Russian crude - saw a 58 per cent year-on-year rise further,' the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said its latest report.

Reliance Industries Ltd has oil refineries at Jamnagar while Russia's Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy has a unit at Vadinar.

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) is a subsidiary of the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

This, it said, amplified 'the fact that EU Member States continued imports are expanding the refining loophole and Russian revenues from crude exports to third countries'.

Europe typically imported an average of 1,54,000 barrels per day (bpd) of diesel and jet fuel from India before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This has almost doubled.

While CREA did not give an absolute number for imports, the European think tank had in a previous report stated that Euro 8.5 billion of price cap coalition countries' imports of oil products in 13 months to December 2023 were made from Russian crude.

These imports in 13 months were equivalent to 68 per cent of the EU's annual commitment to aid Ukraine between 2024 and 2027.

"In the 13 months since the oil price cap took effect (in December 2022), over one-third of India's exports of oil products to sanctioning countries was derived from Russian crude (EUR 6.16 billion or USD 6.65 billion)," the Finland-based CREA had said in the previous report.

While there are no restrictions or sanctions on buying/using Russian crude oil and exporting fuels like diesel derived from it, the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations, the European Union and Australia -- called the price cap coalition countries -- first set a crude price cap of $60 per barrel starting December 5, 2022, and later on products like diesel to keep the market supplied while limiting Moscow's revenue.

CREA in the latest report said India, the world's third largest oil-consuming and importing nation, in October bought Euro 2 billion worth of crude oil from Russia, down from Euro 2.4 billion in the previous month.

"China has bought 47 per cent of Russia's crude exports (in October), followed by India (37 per cent), the EU (6 per cent), and Turkey (6 per cent)," it said.

"India was the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in October, contributing 19 per cent (EUR 2.6 billion) to Russia's monthly export earnings from its top five importers. An estimated 77 per cent of India's imports (valued at EUR 2 billion) comprised crude oil."

In September, India contributed 21 per cent (EUR 2.8 billion) to Russia's monthly export earnings from its top five importers.

Almost 85 per cent of India's imports (valued at EUR 2.4 billion) comprised crude oil.

"From December 5, 2022, until the end of October 2024, China purchased 46 per cent of all Russia's coal exports, followed by India (17 per cent), Turkey (10 per cent), South Korea (10 per cent), and Taiwan (5 per cent) to round off the top five buyers list," the agency said.

India is more than 85 per cent dependent on imports to meet its crude oil needs. In October, the discount on Russian Urals grade crude oil increased 77 per cent to an average of $5.14 per barrel compared to Brent crude oil.

The discounts on the ESPO grade narrowed by 5 per cent and traded at an average discount of $4.58 per barrel, while that on the Sokol blend widened by 8 per cent to $6.77 a barrel.

According to CREA, 34 per cent of Russian seaborne crude oil and its products in October were transported by tankers subject to the oil price cap.

The remainder was shipped by 'shadow' tankers and was not subject to the oil price cap policy.

Cargoes of Russian crude can access western services like insurance and shipping only if sales are capped below $60 a barrel. To circumvent this, a dark or shadow fleet of oil tankers emerged.

The shadow fleet consists of second-hand decrepit oil tankers with opaque ownership structures that make it difficult to ascertain who controls them or forces them to follow Western laws.

CREA said, "83 per cent of the total value of Russian seaborne crude oil was transported by 'shadow' tankers, while tankers owned or insured in countries implementing the price cap accounted for 17 per cent of the total value of Russian crude exported in October".

There have been calls given for preventing growth in 'shadow' tankers that are immune to the oil price cap policy. -- PTI

12:50 Veteran Tamil actor 'Delhi' Ganesh dies

Noted Tamil actor 'Delhi' Ganesh, who essayed a spectacular variety of memorable roles in over 400 films, passed away late Saturday night at his residence here following a brief illness, his family said.

He was 80 years old.

The actor's son, Maha Delhi Ganesh, told reporters that his father had age-related ailments and that he was under treatment.

"Last night when we tried to give him a tablet, he did not respond. A doctor confirmed that he was dead," he said.

Another family member said Ganesh died in his sleep at his Ramapuram residence.

In a statement, the family said Delhi Ganesh passed away at 11 pm on November 9. Film celebrities condoled his death.

A native of Tirunelveli, Ganesh's acting career began in the 1960's when he performed small roles in dramas in Delhi, where he served the IAF for a decade in a civilian post.

Later, when he shifted to Chennai after resigning his IAF job, he joined actor 'Kathadi' Ramamoorthy's troupe and acted in dramas including 'Dowry Kalyanam.'

When legendary director K Balachander made a film (1977) based on the play 'Pattinaprevasam,' Ganesh got his first opportunity in the tinsel world and he reprised his role in the movie.

There was no looking back since then and his filmography is impressive with main roles in films of top stars including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Vijayakanth.

Ganesh's role as a loyal staff of gangster Velu Naicker, a character made immortal by Haasan's brilliant performance in the Mani Ratnam-directed Nayakan (1987), lent weight to the caring persona of the protagonist.

His performance in Kamal Haasan's films including 'Michael Madana Kamarajan' (Palakkad Iyer role) and 'Avvai Shanmughi' (manager of a wealthy person) are regarded as iconic by film-lovers. He also played one of the villains in Haasan's mega hit "Aboorva Sagotharargal," (Appu Raja in Hindi).

Ganesh's stint in stage plays stood him in good stead in films when it came to dialogue delivery and in his career that spanned over four decades, he accomplished with ease an impressive show of a great variety of roles in more than 400 movies.

He had been active in webseries as well.

He was a recipient of Tamil Nadu government's Kalaimamani award. Since he had lived in Delhi for a long time, the name of the city became a prefix to his name when he entered cinema.

Chief Minister M K Stalin condoled Ganesh's demise and said it was a 'great loss' to the Tamil cinema industry.

He recalled his variety of roles apprised in various films. -- PTI

12:32 Drone seizures at Punjab border double: BSF

Drone seizures along the International Border in Punjab have doubled to 200 as Pakistani syndicates continue to push narcotics and weapons to 'destabilise' India by inducing drug addiction in the youth and 'disintegrating' social harmony, the Border Security Force said.

With the recovery of four more drones in the last 24 hours, over 200 Pakistan-based rouge drones have been seized along this border, it said in a statement issued on Saturday.

The BSF guards the 2,290 km of this border running on India's western flank, including 553 km of the front along Punjab.

The IB also runs along Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir (LoC in Kashmir), Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The force had seized a total of 107 drones at the Punjab border in 2023.

The BSF said the almost doubled up drones seizure this year is a 'significant landmark' and 'remarkable milestone' that 'reflects the force's enhanced anti-drone strategies and the deployment of advanced technical counter-measures along the border'.

BSF troops, as per the force, have implemented 'increasingly accurate' anti-drone drills, resulting in a significant setback for Pakistani narcotic syndicates attempting to push in drugs and weapons into the Indian territory with an objective to 'destabilise' it by inducing drug addiction in the young generation and 'disintegrating' social harmony.

A senior BSF officer told PTI that the more than 200 drones seizure this year includes those unmanned aerial vehicles which were shot down by its troops using rifles, jammed in flight with the use of anti-drone technology and those that were recovered lying on the fields on the basis of intelligence inputs or information provided by the locals.

Almost all of these drones are Chinese-made and they carry drugs, small arms and ammunition as payload. However, drugs are the highest sent consignment, the officer said.

The drone menace, that started around 2019-20 along this front, is dominant in the border districts of Amritsar and Tarn Taran in Punjab.

BSF officials have said all the drugs coming from across the Pakistan border into Punjab were now coming through the air route via drones as compared to the earlier land route using pipes pushed from the Pakistan border and many times by being flung from over the fence.

"This year's unprecedented results (of drone seizures) stand as a testament to the BSF's strengthened defences against emerging challenges along the border," the force that functions under the command of the Union home ministry said. -- PTI

11:54 Delhi air quality still 'very poor'

Delhiites woke up to toxic air on Sunday as the air quality remained in the 'very poor' category.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital stood at 334.

Some areas, including Alipur, Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, Rohini, and Bawana, continued to experience 'very poor' air quality.

The AQI classifications are: 0-50 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 is 'severe'.

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature on Sunday morning settled at 18 degree celsius, one degree above the season's average for this time.

At 8:30 am, the humidity level was 91 percent, according to the India Meteorological Department.

The weather department has forecast a mainly clear sky in the morning, with smog or mist likely in the evening and night.

The maximum temperature is expected to reach around 32 degree celsius.

A layer of smog covered the national capital Monday morning and the air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category with an average AQI of 358 at 9 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

Delhi has been witnessing very high of level of air pollution for the past few weeks which has been primarily blamed on stubble-burning in neighbouring states, Diwali fireworks and low wind speed.

The AQI was in the 'very poor' category on Saturday and Friday as well. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead a mega roadshow and address two rallies in poll-bound Jharkhand on Sunday.

Modi will address a public rally in Bokaro at 1 pm and another in Gumla at 3.15 pm. He will lead a mega roadshow in Ranchi in the evening, according to the state Bharatiya Janata Party.

The roadshow is scheduled to begin at 5.15 pm from OTC Ground and culminate at New Market Chowk.

According to an advisory issued by the traffic police, entry of all small and big goods vehicles will be restricted in the state capital between 2 pm and 8 pm.

The district administration has also declared a 'no flying zone' in the 200-meter radius of the stretch between Birsa Munda airport and Sahjanand Chowk in view of the roadshow.

Drones, paragliding and hot air balloons have been restricted in the area. Also, prohibitory orders have been imposed from 6 am to 11 pm, officials said.

Modi will campaign for the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Amar Kumar Bauri at Chandankiyari in Bokaro.

In Gumla, he will seek votes for BJP candidate Sudarshan Bhagat. On Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president J P Nadda and other senior leaders of the party addressed multiple rallies, crisscrossing the state.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also addressed several rallies over the last two days.

Polling for the 81-member Jharkhand assembly will be held on November 13 and November 20, while the votes will be counted on November 23. -- PTI

10:48 Encounter breaks out in Srinagar

An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Zabarwan forest area on the outskirts of Srinagar city on Sunday, officials said.

The gunbattle broke out around 9 am in the forest area connecting Dachigam and upper reaches of Nishat area in Srinagar, they said.

They said security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in the area following information about presence of terrorists there. There are no reports of any casualties so far. -- PTI

An Iranian national charged by the FBI for plotting assassination on president-elect Donald Trump was tasked by the Iranians to target Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka, the Department of Justice has alleged.

Farhad Shakeri, 51, of Iran was charged Friday in a criminal complaint in connection with their alleged involvement in a plot to murder a Trump.

Shakeri is an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) asset, remains at large and is believed to reside in Tehran, Iran.

"He was also tasked with targeting Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka," the Department of Justice said. According to documents filed in a federal court, Shakeri was asked by IRGC to target Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka and to plan a mass shooting event in October 2024.

On or about October 23, 2024, the governments of the United States and Israel publicly warned travellers about threats of an attack targeting tourist locations in the Arugam Bay area, and, on or about the following day, Sri Lankan authorities reported having arrested three individuals in connection with the threat.

On October 28, after the public travel warnings issued by the governments of the United States and Israel and after CC-2's arrest by Sri Lankan authorities-Shaker advised the FBI that he had previously tasked CC-2 with surveilling the Israeli consulate in Sri Lanka, the Department of Justice said.

Shaker stated that he and CC-2 had served time in prison together. Shaker informed the FBI that he had provided this surveillance to IRGC Official-I. According to Shaker, after being provided surveillance on the Israeli consulate, IRGC Official I asked him to identify another target.

After this Shaker then instructed CC-2 to surveil a tourist location in Arugam Bay frequented by Israeli tourists. IRGC Official-I instructed Shaker to orchestrate a mass shooting at the Arugam Bay location.

They planned that CC-2 would supply AK-47s and other weapons for the attack, federal prosecutors said. -- PTI

Image only for representation

09:41 Lack of coordination: Railway on employee's death

A lack of coordination between two rail employees during a shunting operation led to one of them getting stuck in the buffers of the engine and a power car, causing his death in the Barauni Junction of Bihar on Saturday, a preliminary inquiry has found.

The joint report, signed by five rail officials, said the two pointsmen -- Amar Kumar and Mohd Suleman -- failed to properly coordinate with each other due to which Suleman gave the wrong signal to the loco driver, resulting in 25-year-old Kumar's death.

A clip of the body stuck between the buffers has become widely circulated on social media.

A pointsman's job is to detach train engines from coaches.

The preliminary report has held Suleman responsible for the incident.

However, Suleman has defended himself in his written submission and held the loco driver responsible for the accident.

Suleman said he and Kumar disconnected the engine and the power car by detaching the centre buffer coupler -- a device that connects the engine with a coach.

He further said that the engine moved a bit away from the power car and, when Kumar went to close the buffer coupler, the driver reversed the engine without any hand signal from him (Suleman).

"Due to this, Amar (Kumar) got sandwiched between the two buffers," Suleman said.

A buffer is a shock-absorbing device on both ends of a train's engine and coaches, designed to reduce the impact of collisions between bogies.

According to the joint report, the 15204 Lucknow-Barauni Express terminated at Barauni Junction at 8:10 am and the station master assigned the task of detaching the engine from the power car and the rest of the train to Kumar and Suleman.

"While detaching the engine and the power car, pointsman Kumar got stuck between the two and died on the spot," the report said.

After reviewing footage from CCTV cameras installed at the station, they found that the accident occurred around 8:29 am.

Kumar's body was retrieved after separating the engine and the power car at 10:15 am and sent for post-mortem.

According to rail officials, another senior-level inquiry had also been ordered. -- PTI

Outgoing United States President Joe Biden has invited his successor President-elect Donald Trump for a meeting at the White House on November 13, which would formally begin the presidential transition.

"At President Biden's invitation, President Biden and President-elect Trump will meet in the Oval Office on Wednesday at 11:00 am," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

The meeting between the outgoing president and the incoming one is ceremonial and is seeped into decades old tradition. It is generally held in the Oval Office during which the outgoing president gives the president-elect a briefing about the key agenda of the country.

The president-elect is also given a tour of the White House. It involves a meeting between the First Lady and the incoming First Lady. This is only the second time in American history that a president is re-elected after a gap of four years.

In this case, President-elect Donald Trump, who was the 45th president of the United States for four years beginning January 20, 2017, and First Lady Melania Trump are familiar with the workings of the White House and a presidential administration.

The customary meeting between the outgoing and incoming president, which signifies a peaceful transfer of power, was paused in 2020 when Trump had not conceded the election. He also did not attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Joe Biden.

A similar meeting between outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris and her successor J D Vance is also being scheduled. -- PTI

President-elect Donald Trump ruled out two of his previous Cabinet members -- former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley -- to be part of his upcoming administration.

Trump, 78, was elected as the 47th president of the United States. He defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, 60, in the elections held on November 5. In the first term, Trump served as the 45th president from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021.

'I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Pompeo served as the CIA Director and Secretary of State in his first term, while Haley served as his ambassador to the United Nations in the first two years of his presidency. Both his cabinet-ranking officials later entered the presidential race against him in the Republican primaries.

While Pompeo dropped from the race early, Haley was the last challenger against Trump till February this year.

Later on, the two endorsed his campaign. Haley announced her support for Trump during the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin in July this year.

However, in his post, Trump thanked his two former Cabinet officials for their service.

'I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' Trump said. -- PTI

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